Take-up block



May 17, 1932. E. THOMAS 1,859,117

TAKE-UP BLOCK Filed Feb. 1'7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl/forneys.

E THOMAS TAKE-UP BLOCK May 17, 1932.

Filed Feb. 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a5 ,wa r

V Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES EDWARD THOMAS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN STEEL PATENT orrics f WIRE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, A ORPORATION OF NEXV JERSEY TAKE-UP BLocK Application filed February 17, 1931. Serial 'No. 516,477.

This invention relates to take-up or drawing blocks for use in drawing metal and more particularly to take-up blocks for coiling metal which is delivered from cold rolls, and

'5 constitutes an improvement over the block disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,625,506,

dated April 19, 1927.

The features of improvement are concerned principally with means whereby the sur- 10 face of the block is rendered free of irregularities and comparatively wide gaps, so that strips of metal, such as fiat wire, may be wound thereon without deformation or damage, said improved features being centered 15 mainly around the grip slot, at which point devices are provided whereby the end of the strip of metal may be gripped and lowered below the surface of the block a distance equal to the thickness of the end portion of the 20 strip, so that succeeding turns of the strip will wind smoothly over the first turn.

The improved take-up block embodies other features of superiority and advantage over known devices of itsclass, as will become apparent upon consideration of the specification and claims in conjunction with the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in section showing the take-up block in its relative position to a pair of cold rolls.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the block in gripping or work holding position.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line IIIIII of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the block in collapsed position.

The reference numeral 5, Figure 1, desig- 40 nates the shaft of the block, which is journaled in bearings 6 on the take-up stand 7 and has keyed thereto the hub 8 of the block, see Figure 3. A drum portion consisting of parts 9 and 10 is mounted on the hub 8. The part 9 of the drum is provided with bearings 12 and is mounted for free movement on the shaft 5, while the part 10 is provided at one end with a sleeve 18 adapted for alinement. with openings 14 in the sides of the 50 drum, a pin 15 being inserted through said openings and sleeve to provide a pivotal connection. 1

Those portions of the drum parts 9 and 10 which lie opposite the pivotally connected parts just specified are provided with pivot pins 16 and 17 and on these pins interlocking toggle links 18 and 19 are pivoted at one side or extremity thereof while at their opposite sides said links are pivotally connected to one end of an operating link 20 by means of a pin 21. The other end of the link 20 is pivotally connected by means of 'a pin 21 to a lug 22 formed on the hub 8. The hub 8 is formed with another lug 8 and a spring 23 is adj ustably connected at one extremity by means. of a bolt 24 to said lugv and at its opposite end is connected to a lug 25 formed on the link 18.

The take-up block is provided with the usual brake consisting of a drum 26 and brake band 27 the drum 26 being secured to the part 9 of the take-up drum. The band 27 is tightened around the drum 26 by means of a brake lever 28 mounted and operating as shown in Fig. 1. I

When power is applied to the shaft 5 and the brake band 27 is tightened on the drum 26, movement ofthe drum is retarded and the hub 8 will rotate a slight distance relatively to the drum and thus throw the link 20 to a substantially upright position, depressing the toggle links 18 and '19 and expanding the block parts 9 and 10. When the block is expanded, the outer surfaces of the links 18 and 19 are in line with the perimeter or surface contour of the block, and themetal, particularly flat wire strips,-can be wound thereover without deformation or damage, a smooth surface contour being thus provided.

A particularly advantageous feature of the improved block resides in the means for gripping the end of the wire-or fiat strips of metal.

In addition to the lugs 8 and 22, the hub 8 is formed with alug 29, which is provided with a dove-tail groove, to removably receive a gripping dog or'jaw bar 30, and the part 9 of the block is formed with a slot 31, the end of the metal wire or strip being inserted in said slot and caught between the dog and side wall of the slot when movement of the block is retarded and the hub driven forward or advanced relatively to the block.

In order to compensate for the thickness of the gripped end of the metal on the surface of the take-up block and which would otherwise form a protrudingportion on said surface, a compensating device or segment 32 is hinged or pivoted to the part 9 of the takeup block by means of a pivot pin 33. This segment is continually pulled inwardly by means of springs 34, which are attached at opposite ends, respectively, to the segment 32 and part 9 of the block, and is adjusted outwardly against the tension of said springs by means of screws 35, which are threaded through lugs 36 formed on the part 9 and contact with said segment, said screws being provided with lock nuts 37.

a By adjusting the segment 32 inwardly or outwardly, the thickness of the gripped end of the metal being wound on the blockmay be compensatedfor, so that the second and succeeding turns wind smoothly over the first turn without deformation at the grip slot. This feature is of particular advantage when coiling heavy fiat wire.

From the foregoing the operation of the block will be readily understood. Assuming that the block'is in closed or collapsed position ready to receive the strip of material such as wire to be wrapped on the block. The end of the wire will be inserted in the slot 31 under the jaw bar 30 and the segment 32 adjusted to compensate for the thickness of the wire. The brake lever is then d pressed to tighten the brake band 27 on the brake drum 26 and thus retardinovement of the block when power is applied to the shaft 5. The hub 8 will rotate a slight dis tance relatively to the takeup block, thereby forcing the jaw 30 against the end of the wire, clamping the latter, and at the same time the links 18 and 19 will be turned outwardly and expand the parts9 and 10 of the block, stretching the spring 23. After the block has been extended and has made about one revolution, the brake will be released and the force of the rotating hub 8 will then be delivered through spring 23 to the block and cause rotation of the latter with the hub.

The rotation of the hub 8 relative to the block is limited by the jaw 30, so that link 20 is never moved into a dead center position. When torque or .power is released from the shaft 5, rotation of the hub 8 decelerated and the spring 23 will automatically cause rotation of the block parts 9 and 10 relative to the said hub, which action will collapse the toggles 1'8 and 19 and the said parts9 and 10 and release the jaw bar 30 from clamping engagement with the wire.

The wire may then be tied in bundle formation and removed from the block.

1. A take-up or drawing block comprising a shaft, a hub secured to said shaft, a drum portion formed in two parts, one of the parts of said drum being freely mounted on said shaft and the other of said parts being hinged at one end to said first-mentioned drum part and having its other end connected by a series of toggle levers with said hub and first-mentioned part, a spring connected to one of said toggle levers and said hub and adapted to normally urge said levers into collapsed position, said toggle levers being adapted to be forced into extended position to extend said drum parts into operative position against the tension of said spring when said shaft and hub are rotated, a device for gripping the material being drawn, and means for adjusting a portion of the surface contour of tie drum tocompensate for the thickness of the material adjacent said de vice. 2. A take-up or drawing block comprising a shaft, a hub secured to said shaft, a drum portion formed in two parts, one of the parts of said drum being freely mounted on said shaft and the other of said parts being hinged at one end to said first-mentioned drum part and having its other end connected by a series of toggle levers with said hub and first-mentioned part, a spring connected to one of said toggle levers and said hub and adapted to normally urge said levers into collapsed position, said toggle levers being adapted to be forced into extended position to extend said drum parts into operative position against the tension of said spring when said shaft and hub are rotated, a device for gripping the material to be drawn, and an adjustable segment mounted on the perimeter of the block adjacent said device for compensa ting for the thickness of the material adjacent its point of attachment to the block.

A take-up or drawingblock comprising a drum on which the material to be drawn is wound, a material-gripping device mounted to cooperate with the drum, a segment pivotally mounted on the perimeter of the block adjacent said device, and an adjusting screw for adjusting said segment relatively to the surface of the block.

i. A take-up or drawing block comprising a drum on which the material to be drawn is wound, a material-gripping device mounted to cooperate with the drum, a se ment pivmy hand. a V I V j V .E-DVVARD THOMAS. 

